Carbureter.



No. 633,320. Patented Se t. l9, ass.

E. a. INMAN.

CARBURETEB.

I I (Application filed Oct. 31, 1898.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheets Sheei I.

' I s aa All iilllfllmw t a lo /6? v V w Q *1 1 I E, v 1 as i! 'f O v(UM/U044 toz No. 633,326. Patented Sept. l9, I899.

v E. R. INDIAN.

GARBUBETER.

(Application filed Oct. 31, 189B.)

2 Sheets-Sheet z,

5 wue/mboz UNIT D STATES PATENT ()FFIQE.

EDWARD R. INMAN, OF INDIANAPQLIS, INDIANA.

CARBURETER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 633,320, datedSeptember 19, 1899.

' Application filed October 31, 1898. Serial No. 694,998. (No model.)

' tion.

My invention relates to improvements in carbureters to be used inconnection with gasengines and will be fully understood from thefollowing specification, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings through the figures of reference marked thereon,which form apart of said specification.

' In the drawings, Figure 1 is a central vertical section on line a w ofFig. 3. Fig. 2 is a front elevation. Fig. 3 is a side elevation.

The same reference-figures indicate identical parts throughout theseveral views. My device consists of a carbureting-chamber 1, into whichcrude petroleum is introduced, preferably by gravity, through a suiteable pipe 2, provided therefor,,the oil flow.- ing out of said chamberbyway of pipe 3, located near the bottom of chamber 1. Saidcarbureting-chainber is located within a receiver or reservoir 4:, whichreservoir at is of considerably larger diameter than said chamber 1, anda space 5-is thus formed for the reception of wate'rbetween the outersurface of the carbureting-ohamber 1 and the inside of the reservoir 4,in which space 5 water is introduced after it has passed. through thewater-jacket of a gas-engine. A pipe 6, is pro.- vided for this purpose,and said water is withdrawn from said reservoir by means of pipe 7. Thewater aforesaid having. become considerably heated in its passagethrough the jacket of the gas-engine a certain amount of heatistransmitted to the walls of the carburetingchamber and radiated therein,which heat is sufficieut to expel gas from the oil in such quantities asto constitute a supply sufficient -to operate the gas-engine.

The carbureting ehamber 1 and the reservoir 4: are constructed,preferably, of sheet-iron. To the top edge of the sheet-iron forming thereservoir at is attached a ring 8, formed of angle-iron, and the flangeof said ring projects outwardly from the top thereof, the upper edge ofsaid reservoir and the upper face of said ring being flush or even andare attached together by any method commonly employed in such cases. Theupper edge of the metal forming the carbureting-chamber 1 is carriedoutward and is formed into a horizontal flange 9, the outer diameter ofwhich flange 9 is equal to the outer diameter of ring 8. Said flangerests upon ring 8 and is sup ported thereby. A cover 10 also rests uponsaid ring 8. The cover 10 aforesaid is constructed, preferably, ofcast-iron with an outward horizontally-projecting flange 11,formed uponits lower face, the "width of which flange 11 is about equal in width tothe flange upon ring 8 and coincides therewith in diameter. At the inneredge of flange 11 the cover 10 projects upwardly for a slight distance,which gives to said cover 10 a pan-like appearance and shape. In thesame horizontal plane with the outwardly-projecting flange 11 is formedan inwardly-projecting flange 12, said flange ending in anupwardly-projecting bead 13. Said bead 1 3, juxtaposed to theupwardly-projecting inside of the cover 10,forms a trough 14, in whichis deposited the oil as it enters through pipe 2. ,Cover'lO, flange 9,

and ring 8 are all secured together by bolts or machine-screws passingthrough theseveral flanges, and the joints formed by the meeting of saidflanges may be made tight by packing, if so desired, though notnecessarily so.

The whole device in operation should be set as nearly level as,possible, and being so set the oil will rise in equal depth in thetrough and overflow in a thin sheet down the inner walls of thecarbureting-chamber, thereby becoming heated, whereby gas is liberatedfrom the oil. As is well established and recognized in the industry ofgas engineering, it is necessary that the explosive agent by which agas-engine is operated should consist of a large percentage of airmingled with a smaller percentage of gas. Therefore I provide forpassing air through the carbureting-chamber 1, and the air absorbs inits passage through said chamber a sufficient amount of gas to make it asuitable explosive mixture for the purpose aforesaid.

Provision for the passage of air through the carbureting-chamber 1 ismade as follows: In the top of cover 10 is formed a tappingboss 15,suitably drilled and tapped for the reception of proper pipe. Into saidtappingboss and projecting downwardly into the carhuretiug-chamber 1 isscrewed a pipe 16, with slots 17 formed therein for the distribution ofair throughout the length of said pipe. As an outlet to saidcarbureting-chamber another boss 18, similar in form and construction,is provided in cover 10, which boss 18 is also suitably drilled andtapped for the reception of pipe and other desirable fittings. Into boss18 is fitted a pipe 19,anda suitable pipe connection is made from thenceto the inlet-valve of a gas-engine. The carbureter being so connectedwith a gas-engine, the suction of the engine caused by an outward strokeof the piston draws a charge of air through the carbureting-chamber,where it is suitably carbureted to serve as the motive agent of theengine.

\Vater may be made to stand at any desired height in the reservoir 4 byattaching a pipe to outlet-pipe 7 and extending said attached pipeupwardly to such height as appears necessary and desirable; butexperience has demonstrated that said pipe should extend nearly to thetop of the reservoir 4, so that said reservoir shall be nearly full ofwater when the overflow takes place at pipe 7.

As a means of preventing the undue cooling of the interior of theoarbureting-chamber l bya passage of cold air therethrough I provide aheater for the purpose of heating the air before it passes into saidchamber 1. Said heater is constructed as follows: About the exhaust-pipe20 of the engine I place a sleeve 21, of larger diameter than said pipe20, so that between the periphery of pipe 20 and the interior of sleeve21 is formed a space 22. By

means of this device air is taken into the carbureting-chamber throughthe passage 22, and as said air comes in contact with the exhaust-pipe20, which is very hot, the temperature of said air is raised to such adegree as to not lower the temperature of the carbureting-chamber as itpasses therethro ugh. Furthermore, the heating of the air, as aforesaid,

facilitates the absorption of gas as it passes through thecarbureting-chamber, a twofold object being thus accomplished by heatingthe air. I do not limit myself, however, to the continual employment ofsaid heater, as it is not necessary in warm weather.

It being desirable to provide separate and independent means of heatingwater in reservoir 4 for the purpose of generating gas to start theengine I construct a base for said reservoir which is properly equippedfor the reception and maintenance of fire.

The construction in detail of said base-heater is substantially asfollows: I construct a bottom 24:, preferably of cast-iron, severalinches in height,in which bottom is formed an ash-pit 25, and above saidpit is placed a grate 26. Upon the uppersurface of bottom 24 is formed aperpendicular flange 27, about which a sheetiron body 23 is placed. Inthe front of said body 23 is provided a door 29 for the introduction offuel. A pipe 30 leads from said body to conduct away smoke and inducethe required draft. Above the body 23 is placed a cap 31, which is anopen annular ring having a perpendicular flange projecting downwardlyand fitting closely inside of body 23. The bottom of the reservoir 4sits upon the cap 31, forming the top of the base-heater, and when fireis kindled in the base the water in the reservoir is heated to such adegree as to generate gas from the oil introduced in thecarbureting-chamber, which gas may be used for the purpose of startingthe engine and operating it until the water becomes sufficiently hot inthe jacket of the gas-engine to supply-the necessary heat. Should. it bedesired at any time to use my generator for generating gas for any otherpurpose than that of operating a gas-engine, the heaterbase shown anddescribed provides an ample means for obtaining heat to heat the waterin space 5 independent of any other source, and should the temperatureof the water from the jacket of the gas-engine become or be found to betoo low for the purpose specified supplementary heat may be generated bythe heater at the base.

The device herein shown and described is designed especially for use inthe oil regions, where oil may be passed through the carburetor in suchquantities as not to impair its quality as a commercial product, and forthis purpose I claim especial value for my device, as the temperature ofthe water in space 5 may be so regulated (by passing larger or smallerquantities through the jacket of the engine) as to produce only thenecessary shrinkage of the oil. Furthermore, the shrinkage may also beregulated by the amount of oil passed through the carburetor.

From the foregoing description it may be understood that my device whenused for or in connection with a gas-engine as motive power in oil-wellpumping is designed to generate from crude petroleum a sufficient amountof gas to operate such engine without impairing the quality of oil soused, and consequently the cost of fuel for power purposes is reduced tothe minimum.

Having thus described my device, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a carbnreter for gas-engines, the combination of awater-reservoir; a carburetingchamber located within saidwater-reservoir; an air-inlet leading to said carbureting-chamher; anairheater consisting of a sleeve formed around the exhaust-pipe of agas-engine, said exhaust-pipe being adapted to heat the air as it passesinto the carbureting-chamher; an oil-inlet pipe leading into saidcarbureting-chamber; an oil-outlet pipe leading from saidcarbureting-chamber to the exterior, through said water-chamber; anoutlet air-pipe leading froinsaid carbureting-ehamber; an outletwater-pipe leading from the lower part of said watenreservoir; an inletpipe leading into the upper part of said water-reservoir, whereby saidWater-space is adapted to be placed in communication with theWater-jacket of a gas-engine, and to receive the heated water therefrom,substantially as shown and described.

2. In a carbureter for gas-engines, the combination of a water-chamber;a carburetingchamber, located in said water-chamber; an oil-distributingtrough located at the upper end of said carbureting-chainber; anoil-pipe leading fromthe supply to said distributingtrough; and-a secondoil-pipe leading from said carbureting-chamber; an air-inlet passageleading to said carbureting-chamber; an outlet-passage for conductingcarbureted air from said chamber; means for introducing water to saidwater-chamber; and a base or combustion-chamber supporting saidreserpassing air through said carbureting-chain-l ber; a heater adaptedto heat said air-space before it enters the carbureting-chambem meansfor communication between the waterjacket of a gas-engine and theWater-space in said reservoir; an outlet from said waterspace; and asupporting combustion-chamber, substantially as and for the purpose setforth;

' In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

in presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD R. INMAN. Witnesses:

LEW'IS M. HOWE, P. G. HOWE.

